of a man, evidently a sailor, behind a hoarding
placed in front of some shops in course of erection. There was no clue
to the victim, who had evidently been stabbed from behind in the street,
and then dragged or carried to the place in which the body had been
discovered.

The pockets had been emptied, and the police who regarded the crime as
an ordinary one of murder and robbery, entertained the usual hopes of
shortly arresting the assassins.

The pawnbroker put the paper down, and drummed on the table with his
fingers. The description of the body left no room for doubt that the
victim of the tragedy and the man who had sold him the diamond were
identical. He began to realize the responsibilities of the bargain, and
the daring of his visitor of the day before, in venturing before him
almost red-handed, gave him an unpleasant idea of the lengths to which
he was prepared to go. In a pleasanter direction it gave him another
idea; it was strong confirmation of Levi's valuation of the stone.

"I shall see my friend again," said the Jew to himself, as he looked up
from the paper. "Let him make an attempt on me and we'll see."

He threw the paper down, and, settling back in his chair, fell into a
pleasing reverie. He saw his release from sordid toil close at hand.
He would travel and enjoy his life. Pity the diamond hadn't come twenty
years before. As for the sailor, well, poor fellow, why didn't he stay
when he was asked?

The cat, still dozing, became aware of a strong strange odor. In a lazy
fashion it opened one eye, and discovered that an old, shrivelled up
little man, with a brown face, was standing by the counter. It watched
him lazily, but warily, out of a half-closed eye, and then, finding that
he appeared to be quite harmless, closed it again.

The intruder was not an impatient type of customer. He stood for some
time gazing round him; then a thought struck him, and he approached the
cat and stroked it with a masterly hand. Never, in the course of its
life, had the animal met such a born stroker. Every touch was a caress,
and a gentle thrum, thrum rose from its interior in response.

Something went wrong with the stroker. He hurt. The cat started up
suddenly and jumped behind the counter. The dark gentleman smiled an
evil smile, and, after waiting a little longer, tapped on the counter.

The pawnbroker came from the little room beyond, with the newspaper
in his hand, and his brow darkened as he saw the custom